11.5.2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt today continued his criticism of the Obama Administration’s approach to distribution of the vaccine for H1N1 in the wake of news reports that Wall Street companies are receiving doses of the vaccine ahead of many vulnerable Americans.
“While many Missourians are still at risk, Wall Street bankers are at the head of the line for H1N1 vaccine,” Blunt said. “The federal government continues to demonstrate that it cannot manage distribution of this vaccine; yet the Obama Administration wants to manage a complete government-takeover of health care.”
“President Obama called this pandemic a ‘national emergency,’ but the federal government continues to fail at one of its most basic responsibilities,” Blunt continued. “This Administration is sending some Wall Street companies as many vaccines as hospitals are receiving, and Missouri families are not getting their fair share.”
“The Obama Administration should send Wall Street’s doses to Missouri, where expectant mothers, children and others vulnerable to the H1N1 virus are not guaranteed access to the vaccine. Moms and kids first,” Blunt continued.
Recent reports suggest that the Administration’s response on H1N1 has fallen short, leaving many Missourians, including school districts, without access to enough doses of the vaccine. Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services late last week reported that it only has 28 percent of the H1N1 vaccine that it needs.
Blunt, a member of the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health, which exercises oversight over public health and pandemic preparedness, recently voiced his concern about the Administration’s handling of vaccine distribution. Senators Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Me.) have also been critical of Administration’s handling of this public health crisis.
Majority Democrats on the House Energy & Commerce Committee recently postponed a hearing on the handling of the H1N1 pandemic that had been scheduled for November 4th.
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